Stair-lift.



UNITED STATES 1; amnnr rricnm JAMES M. DODGE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE STAIR LIFT COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

STAIR=LHFT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,359, dated April 16, 1901.

Application filed February 18,1901- Serial No. 47,169. .No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES M. DODGE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Stair-Lifts, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to prevent the parts (Sf personal apparel being drawn in at the junction of the moving sections of the IO stairway or moving platform with the landing or fixed platform. This object I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of sufficient of the upper end of a stair-lift to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view with the platform removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one form of air-blast pipe, and Fig. 4 is a modification of the pipe.

A designates the sides of the stair-lift, having channels a a a in which travel the rollers 11 of the stair-lift B, which is made in the present instance in accordance with the patent granted to me on the 12th day of December,

0 is the head-roller at the upper end of the stair-lift, around which the moving section B of the stair-lift passes.

D is a fixed platform at the head of the stairway onto which the passenger is transferred from the upper section of the stair-lift. The platform is set as close as possible to the surface of the stair-lift B; but there will always he a very slight opening at this point,

3 5 suficient, however, to allow small pieces, such as ravelings from a dress, to be drawn into the opening, and accidents may occur by the stair-lift drawing in such fragments and causing the person to stumble or fall.

To make it impossible for even ravelings to pass into the opening 00, I provide an air-blast device which will force a quantity of air out through a narrow space in front of the fixed landing between it and the moving portion of 5 the stair-lift, so that there will be no tendency of particles to pass into the opening.

In the present instance I have shown an air-blast pipe E, having a nozzle e, made narrow and continuous throughout the width of 5c the stair-lift, and this pipe is connected to an air-sup ply pipe E, connected to a fan or any air-pressure device in the building.

Fig. 4 shows a modification of the pipe E, in which independent nozzles e are used. It will be understood that the arrangement of the pipe and the form of the nozzles can be varied as desired, and it will also be understood that it takes very little air to prevent the material from passing into the slot, so that the air-blast will hardly be perceptible to those passing up the stairway.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination in a stair-lift, of the moving portion, a platform adjoining said portion, and an air-blast device arranged to produce a current of air at the point where the moving section passes the fixed platform or landing, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a stair-lift, of the moving portion,a platform adjoining said por- 7o tion, and an air-blast device arranged to force a current of air through the space between the moving section and the platform, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a stair-lift, of the moving section, a fixed platform at the head or upper terminal of the moving section, an air-blast pipe having a nozzle whereby air under pressure can be directed through the space between the moving section of the stair- 8o lift and the platform, substantially as described.

4:. The combination in a stair-lift, of a moving section, a wheel at the upper end of the stair-lift around which the moving section 8 5 passes, a fixed platform in close proximity to the upper end of the moving portion of the stair-lift, an air-blast pipe situated under the platform, and means for causing a current of air to be blown from the pipe through the 0 space between the platform and the moving section of the platform, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 5 two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. DODGE.

Witnesses:

WILL. A. BARR, J 0s. H. KLEIN. 

